Husky sledding in Rovaniemi with kids
Children love huskies, but sled rules are written with the dogs' load in mind. Each operator sets its own age and weight limits, and none of them lets a child stand at the handlebar. This guide sorts the tours by what works for which family.
Who drives and who rides
On a self-drive safari an adult stands on the runners and works the brake, while a passenger sits in the sled basket. Children ride as passengers, so the question is whether a tour takes them at all, and with whom.
The rules differ more than the prices do. Our guide to driving your own team or riding along explains the two roles, and the rest of this page covers what each operator asks of families.
Apukka's sled rules for families
Apukka's 6 km self-drive safari uses tandem sleds about 55 cm wide. Each sled holds at most two adults and one to three children, with a combined limit of 250 kg (about 550 lb).
The age rules depend on how many adults share the sled. One adult with one child works when the child is about 9–10 or older. With two or three children on board, the oldest must be 12 or over.
Infants need a dedicated adult passenger, because the guides do not drive the sleds. So a family of two adults and a baby fills one sled. One parent drives while the other holds the child.
Apukka is also the farm where reviews mention meeting puppies after the ride, which many children enjoy as much as the sled itself. The listing rules out pregnant travelers and people with mobility impairments.
Our pick for families who want to drive
Apukka picks you up from Rovaniemi center or Santa Claus Village and lends thermal overalls with boots, then puts adults on the runners for 6 km, from ~$245. Rated 4.6 from 1,500+ reviews on GetYourGuide. Expect a busy operation on a large scale, and some reviewers say the ride feels short for the price.
Safartica and A Day In Lapland
On Safartica's daytime husky safari, two adults share each team and children ride in the sleigh. The 5 km loop takes about 20–30 minutes, short enough for most young passengers to stay warm and interested.
Safartica is strict about timing, and a late arrival means a missed safari with no refund. With children that is the main risk, so leave more time than you think you need for boots and toilet stops.
On A Day In Lapland's small-group safari, the drivers must be adults of 18 or over. Check the listing for children's ages and prices before you book family places.
The group never tops 8 guests, and the ride ends in a kota with hot drinks and grilled sausages. That slower finish by the fire suits families who want more than a quick loop.
Short rides for small children
For toddlers or children who tire quickly, a long safari can be more than they want. Bearhill's ride at Santa Claus Village fits a 2.5 km loop of 7–12 minutes into a 30-minute slot. A musher drives, and juice with biscuits follows.
Bearhill is listed as wheelchair accessible on GetYourGuide, and it scores 4.7 from 1,500+ reviews there. The catch is plain: this is a taster ride rather than a safari, and nobody in your family drives.
Our guide to husky rides at Santa Claus Village covers the meeting point. Since the ride starts inside the village, it fits easily between other plans for the day.
Combo days with reindeer
Families who want huskies and reindeer in one outing tend to look at the combo days. The husky and reindeer day with a snowmobile ride costs from ~$221 and includes a shared snowmobile ride plus a 500 m sleigh ride behind each animal.
One adult rides while the other drives the snowmobile, which calls for a valid physical category B driving licence. Expect a sampler of Lapland animals rather than real time behind the dogs.
The park also runs a reindeer and Santa Claus Village day from ~$210, which brings a salmon soup lunch and free time at the village. Children under 150 cm also get 10 minutes of mini-snowmobiling, but the husky part is only a 500 m sleigh ride inside a 6-hour day.
Cold, patience and timing
Children lose heat faster than adults and tend to complain only once they are already cold. Dress them in wool layers under the lent overall and pack a spare pair of mittens.
Our guide on what to wear for husky sledding lists the layers that go underneath. Most of it applies to children too, with an extra hat in the bag.
Attention spans run short in the cold. Briefings and waiting at the start can add up to a long stretch outdoors before the sled even moves, so a shorter loop is the happier choice for many young children.
Daylight matters as well. Around the December solstice the sun is up for only a couple of hours, so a midday ride gives children the most light, and the best months for huskies covers the rest of the winter.
Meeting the dogs safely
Huskies are usually friendly with people, but a dog in harness is working and excited. Teach children to wait for the guide's signal before petting, and to approach from the side rather than reaching over a dog's head.
Ask the guide which dogs like attention. A good kennel knows its dogs well, and our welfare guide lists what else to look for while the children say hello.
Which tour suits which family
- Two adults who want to drive, with children riding (Apukka or Safartica)
- A small group and a fire afterwards, adults 18+ driving (A Day In Lapland)
- Toddlers or a tight schedule (Bearhill's short ride at Santa Claus Village)
- A sampler day with reindeer as well (the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park combo)
Children's prices vary by operator and age, so check the listing before you compare totals. Our guide to what a Rovaniemi husky safari costs sets out the adult prices side by side.